Portrait Deconstructed

portrait frowning boy on streets of Cochin India

Hostile

Cochin, India 2009

I don’t always ask for a portrait. It is my opinion that once a person is aware that you are photographing them, their countenance changes. Facial muscles stiffen in self-consciousness. Something vital is lost.

I was in Cochin looking for some local color on a deserted street. I spotted this handsome boy. My first shot was a reflex. You are supposed to think about your shot. I know that.  But candid shots often vanish before you have a chance to think. So get what you can is my theory. Plenty of time to think once you have established a relationship with your subject. And one thing to think about is not to place your subject in the center as I have done here. (This could easily be cropped if it was the only photo I had. Cropping is not a sin despite what many photographers like to tell you.)

cochin india boy staring with suspicion at photographer

Still Suspicious

Here’s shot number two. I’ve cropped a bit…I must have liked that splash of pink in the background.  Red, pink and yellow…good colors but maybe the pink is a bit distracting.

smiling Indian boy

Perfect!

I no longer have my splash of pink but red and yellow give the portrait pizzazz plus his dazzling smile and sweet expression. I don’t remember if I spoke to the boy, but obviously he changed his mind about me.

The last bit of advice is to only show portrait number three.

This entry was posted in Children, India, photo tips, photography, Portraits, Rosemary's Blog, Travel. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply